Chapter 97 Chapter 97 Concubine Shu's Ten Days
Because the matter involved the Qianqing Palace, while Wenxi was checking the Chengqian Palace, Wang Ding was also checking the Qianqing Palace.
However, soon after he began his investigation, something happened: Shen Yi, a senior eunuch in the imperial court, died not long ago. He committed suicide.
Wang Ding covered his mouth and nose with a handkerchief and examined Shen Yi's body. He was sure that it was suicide, so he stood up and asked, "How did he get the news? Has anyone entered or left the Qianqing Palace since the emperor went to Chengqian Palace?"
It all took only an hour, and fortunately it was discovered early, so it is easy to find out who has come into contact with Shen Yi.
As soon as he finished speaking, someone went to compile a list of people who had entered and left the Palace of Heavenly Purity.
Shen Fang, Shen Yi's apprentice, had fear in his eyes and his hands were shaking so much that he couldn't calm down. He was the first person to discover Shen Yi's death, so he tried his best to explain in detail: "I came to see Master a quarter of an hour ago, and Master's face looked wrong. But before I opened my mouth, Master asked me to serve him a pot of tea. Since Master was in the mood to drink tea, I didn't think much about it. When I came back, it was like this. I shouldn't have left just now. If I hadn't left, Master wouldn't have died."
"Master has not left the Palace of Heavenly Purity this morning."
Wang Ding took a look at the tea leaves and tea that spilled on the threshold, as well as the teapot that rolled to the side, and only believed his words half-heartedly.
He glanced at the eunuch next to him, and the eunuch immediately put his hand on Shen Fang's shoulder and said, "Let's go."
Shen Fang gritted his teeth. As a person working in front of the emperor, he knew what this trip meant. Shen Yi was dead, and nothing could be pried out from a dead man. He had been Shen Yi's apprentice for three years. Wang Ding suspected that he had concealed something for Shen Yi, and was too impatient to ask him in detail, so he wanted to torture him.
Shen Fang's teeth were grinding, but Wang Ding was still looking at Shen Yi's body and ignored him.
After a palace servant sorted out who had entered and left the Palace of Heavenly Purity in the past one or two hours, Wang Ding's eyes quickly swept over the people on the list, and then picked out a few names and took them away to interrogate them together with Shen Fang.
After a cup of tea, Wang Ding got the news from Shen Fang, picked out several strong eunuchs and went straight to the harem.
…
Shen Qing slept for two hours. When she woke up, Ji Chen heard the noise and handed her a glass of water. After she drank it, he said, "The matter has been investigated."
Shen Qing finished drinking the water, held the porcelain cup and asked, "Who?"
"Noble Concubine Lin."
Shen Qing's doubts grew even stronger. Although Concubine Lin's presence had always been small, she knew her.
Concubine Lin once lived in the same palace with Concubine Du. At that time, Concubine Lin was still called Concubine Hui. Cuihuan, the palace maid beside her, had bribed her. She still remembered it clearly. After all, it was a golden hairpin. She had been in the palace for two years at that time, and it was the first time someone was so generous to her.
Of course, it was later discovered that Cuihuan was actually Concubine Xian's person, and it was not Concubine Lin who took the initiative to place people in the harem. However, Concubine Lin still left the impression of not being strict with her subordinates.
Later, because Concubine Lin bullied Concubine Yan, she was stripped of her title and demoted to Concubine Lin, which also shows that she is a bit confused.
Concubine Lin was good friends with Concubine Xian. If the fake pregnancy was blamed on Concubine Lin, then Concubine Xian was probably the one behind it.
After all, Concubine Lin had no ability to place people in the imperial court, and she was a good queen, so why would she go against the favorite concubine? Even if Concubine Lin hated her, there was no need to use the people in the imperial court to plot against her. Even if the plot succeeded and she was overthrown, the result would not be any good for Concubine Lin.
She had no children and had never been favored.
The virtuous concubine had an old grudge against her, and if the resentment lingered for a long time, she might have planned this.
Shen Qing asked in confusion: "Why her? I have never had much contact with her, and we have barely spoken to each other in a month."
Ji Chen was silent for a moment: "Because she hates me, she wants to take revenge on you."
When he found out that it was Concubine Lin, he was still upset. He didn't believe it was Concubine Lin, but...
"Concubine Lin hanged herself. The words just now were written in her suicide note. She confessed that she was the one who did it and accused me. Because of me, I took my anger out on you."
Shen Qing was shocked. How did Concubine Lin die?
She still didn't believe that it was Concubine Lin who did it. Rather than the fact that the evidence pointed to Concubine Lin, she was more shocked that such a high-ranking lady could die so quietly without anyone noticing or stopping it in advance.
If Concubine Lin had been stopped in advance, the truth would never be so simple.
Concubine Lin is just a scapegoat.
If Concubine Lin really did this, why didn't she live well and go to Ji Chen to accuse him? Suicide by a concubine is a capital crime and will implicate the whole family. If only Concubine Lin made the mistake and was punished, fewer people in the Lin family would be implicated.
There are few concubines in the palace who do not value their families. Could Concubine Lin be so cruel as to abandon the Lin family?
Shen Qing said in a dry voice: "Where are Noble Concubine Lin's maids? She is already a Noble Concubine. No matter what, she will have two maids to serve her. How could anything happen to Noble Concubine Lin?"
Ji Chen reached out and touched Shen Qing's forehead, reluctantly saying, "Before the incident, Feicui, who was beside Concubine Lin, dismissed the palace servants beside Concubine Lin and died with Concubine Lin. Concubine Lin was hanged by the bed curtain, and Feicui drank poisoned wine and died beside Concubine Lin's bed."
"The poisoned wine kills instantly upon contact with blood. When Wang Ding arrived, Feicui had already been dead for a while."
It's strange that Concubine Lin didn't prepare the white silk in advance, but Feicui prepared the poisoned wine in advance.
Shen Qing hugged his wrist, her lips pale with blood: "How could Feicui, a palace maid, get a deadly poison? If there is poison, it must have left traces in the palace."
The poison that kills instantly is not cheap. It requires both connections and sufficient money.
It's impossible to hide your whereabouts.
Do you really think poison is something you can get easily? In the palace, it is more precious than life-saving medicine.
"Wang Ding is still investigating. Feicui had an affair with one of my eunuchs, Shen Yi. It started in the Crown Prince's Mansion. Feicui had the eunuch fumigate your handkerchief with incense. Long-term use will subtly cause your body to show symptoms of false pregnancy. It's only because the sachet you wore conflicted with the dirty thing that the symptoms changed. Your body has period normally, and the reaction is more intense."
"If it was a normal infection, it would be difficult for a woman who has never been pregnant to tell whether it was real or not."
Shen Qing remembered Feicui. She was the most trusted palace maid around Concubine Lin. It would have no reason for her to betray Concubine Lin.
There is also this kind of fragrance that can make people fake pregnant. Who got it from where?
Shen Qing had too many doubts, and finally said: "Your Majesty, I feel that Concubine Lin is wronged. Although she doesn't like me, she would never have planned this."
If she had been so meticulous, Concubine Lin would not have lost her title and position as Concubine because of Concubine Yan.
Ji Chen said, "I know what's going on. I've asked Wang Ding to investigate this secretly, but I'll temporarily identify Concubine Lin as the murderer and bury her as a concubine. When the real murderer feels that he understands the matter and reveals his true intentions, I'll collect evidence and bury Concubine Lin as a concubine. I'll also seek justice for you."
The rank of a concubine was quite high. Above the title of Guipin was the second-rank title of Zhaoyi Xiurong. However, Ji Chen skipped the second-rank title and directly decided that Guipin Lin would be buried as a concubine in the future.
Ji Chen's attitude towards Concubine Lin was not very good. Concubine Lin's "suicide note" still expressed her resentment towards him as the emperor.
Then the reason why Ji Chen chose the second-rank concubine position as Lin Guipin's final destination was more likely because he already had someone he suspected, and that person was currently a concubine.
Either she is the virtuous concubine or the virtuous concubine.
Shen Qing shed tears quietly.
Ji Chen felt a chill on his hand and found that it was Shen Qing's tears sliding down her face and dripping onto his hand. He hurriedly moved closer to her and asked anxiously, "What's wrong? Are you scared by Concubine Lin's matter? I will increase patrols in the harem and will never let such evil things happen again, nor will I let you fall into such danger again. Don't be afraid."
He prided himself on having a relatively clean harem, but such a murder happened right under his nose. He couldn't just pretend nothing happened and let people get away with it.
Shen Qing cried, "Did I offend Concubine Xian, and Concubine Lin suffered this misfortune?"
Ji Chen slowly wiped away her tears: "Don't blame yourself. Someone knows that Feicui and Shen Yi have different feelings. It means that they targeted Concubine Lin this morning. It has nothing to do with you. No matter who it is, that person will push Concubine Lin to take the blame. And I think it is unlikely that it is Concubine Xian."
[If she was a virtuous concubine, Concubine Lin would have taken the blame. ]
[Didn’t Concubine Lin do the same thing as the Queen did that time? If it happens again, how could it be better if Concubine Lin took the initiative to admit it? ]
[The virtuous concubine does not have to kill Concubine Lin. ]
Shen Qing's tears were not for Ji Chen's sympathy and concern. She was really sad. In order to plot against her once, he sacrificed the lives of Lin Guipin and Feicui. Even Shen Yi, as Ji Chen mentioned, would not have a good ending.
If more people are implicated, more than just two lives will be at stake.
If it’s not Consort Xian, then it must be Consort De.
Shen Qing threw himself into Ji Chen's arms, with a dark gleam in his eyes.
If you want evidence, isn't it easy? The Empress Defei values the Third Prince the most, so she will never allow anyone else to threaten the Third Prince's position.
Even if Concubine De can remain stable, what if the Third Prince catches Ji Chen's eye and is valued by Ji Chen?
Even before she became pregnant, Concubine De had already made such plans. If she became pregnant, the fetus in her belly would threaten the Third Prince's position in Ji Chen's heart. Once the rumors spread in the palace, it was hard to believe that Concubine De would not take action.
This time, with preparation, finding evidence will be a piece of cake, right?
Shen Qing stopped crying, but still cried, "When I am well again, let's have a child. Otherwise, it will be bad for the reputation of the emperor if I am still pregnant."
Some rumors would not reach Ji Chen's ears, but she had heard them.
She knew that there was nothing wrong with Ji Chen. The frequent calls for water in Chengqian Palace also indirectly proved Ji Chen's ability, but if the rumors could be stopped here, they would no longer be called rumors.
Ji Chen agreed without hesitation. It had become his instinct to obey Shen Qing, and he was also looking forward to it.
In just over three months, it will be Shen Qing's 20th birthday. Once Shen Qing recovers, life will actually be fine.
Besides, pregnancy is not something that can happen just by thinking about it.
Others take their time.
The entire matter of false pregnancy was handled by Ji Chen. A group of people were purged from the Qianqing Palace, the palace maids who served Concubine Lin were punished, and Concubine Lin was convicted.
The matter was temporarily resolved in just half a day, but the Imperial Hospital was still researching the substance that could cause a person to fake pregnancy. Wang Ding held on to the clue of Feicui, as he suspected that Feicui was not Concubine Lin's at all, and had another master behind her.
Ji Chen finished reviewing the backlog of memorials in the middle of the night and asked someone to summon Qian Quanzhong.
Shen Qing, on the other hand, was actively taking care of her health. She asked for leave from Kunning Palace and no longer went to pay respects. She also gave Xuancao a lot of silver.
Daylily's sachet played a big role. Ji Chen also appointed Daylily as a female official, the fifth rank of Palace Chief, who was responsible for supervising the improper behavior of concubines and female officials in the harem.
The position of Palace Director had just been vacated not long ago, and many people were eyeing it. Ji Chen waved his hand and gave it directly to Xuancao.
The Queen naturally felt complicated when she heard this, but it was definitely a good thing for Gong Zheng to fall into the hands of her own people, rather than promoting a female official with no one knowing who was standing behind her.
She carefully selected something to give to Daylily.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
